Nobility: Where did it go? - Not from a purist so much as a connoisseur

Jonathan | January 2, 2004

Nobility: possessing, characterized by, or arising from superiority of mind or character or of ideals or moralsfrom m-w.com.

Let me first say that I have read the books often; all of them. I do enjoy lively debates about finer points of intrigue oin the books with friends. I do not consider myself a purist from the aspect that it can be an ever-changing, updateable story; as in Shakespear. But at least let it make sense!

I enjoyed the first two movies, especially once the extra bits were put back in to help in the cohesion. I understand the removal of some parts, even though I would have loved to see Tom Bombadil or Gan Buri Gan on a big screen. *sigh*

But on to my point: Nobility. It is, from the first, taken from Aragorn. Ok, I can understand that even after almost 90 years of moving towards this goal, when faced with the challenge you may balk some and say why me. Through 3 movies? Please! Aragorn was the penacle of what was left of the men of the West. What was the point of showing all of this weakness and indecision? One of the most learned men in all of Middle-earth and he does not know of the Paths of the Dead. Who did they swear that broken oath to? I was hoping to see in the character in the movie the qualities that make you want to follow him anywhere. That quiet assurance and confidence that he was on the path designed for him at last, that made Boromir call him his King, and brought the dead to the Stone by force of will alone. The doubts may have been there, but not shown to the world.

Theoden. Restored to himself by Gandalf, he rides of to war! No wait, to hide in Helms Deep! Not as an important military point but as a bastion that will protect -all- of his people. Will my people follow an old man in these times of trouble? *sigh* These showsof frail humanity do nothing to bolster your confidence in the conflict or make you want to support the king in his fight against darkness. Why couldn't Jackson let him be King?

Denethor.A man who has, in his Palantir driven madness, given up hope is not allowed, as in the book, to recover his dignity and die as he chooses. In the movie he his beaten (PHYSICALLY) soundly twice by Gandalf, and then in a moment of lucidity runs to fling himself, on fire mind you, off the hill to his death among his own people below. Why would Gandalf, a little known legend, suddenly have absolutely no respect for the most powerful man in Gondor? The man that is necessary for this last fortress to hold against the initial onslaughts of the enemy. The man is reduced to little short of a fiend, that even Pippin does not swear fealty to out of saddened love, but of a self imposed debt. That he(Pippin) does not understand and looks upon his liege in disgust.

Faramir.A slightly different case. When I saw TTT in the theater I was very annoyed by the almost betrayal of Faramir that went too far. In the EE this was explained and the blurb between he, Boromir, and Denethor was intrinsic to that making sense. While being an odd change, I was not wholly unhappy with it after seeing the EE. Although in the theater when Sam starts on his monologue about not feeling like they oughta be there, I could not keep my mouth shut, and "Because you're NOT!" flew from my mouth. To the annoyance of my friends. -grin-

Well I of course have more to say, but having made this point, I will save it for later. I probably had too many expectations. And amidst all this negativity I did truly enjoy the cinematic effect of the movie. I almost wish I was coming at it from the perspective of the younger generation that is not steeped in the story. Ahh well. It will not keep my from owning all three in the Extended Editions, and I really hope they show all three in the theaters back to back again. Thanks for reading, and if you have gotten this far. I am a women, being almost 30, and never felt slighted by the more masculine bent of the book. In case you were curious. -grin-

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